consociationalism

Definitions

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n. Political consociation

Etymologies

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Examples

The only kind of consociationalism that might work in Israel and Palestine is confessionalism, which is "a system of government that distributes political and institutional power proportionally among religious communities" - such as in Lebanon.

The guiding principles of consociationalism are proportional inclusion (accomplished through government by grand coalitions and elections conducted by a proportional electoral system), mutual group vetoes on major issues, and group cultural autonomy.

Political scientists and constitutional theorists offer various models designed to ensure peaceful governance amidst this pluralism, such as proportional representation in the national government, federalism with varying degrees of provincial autonomy, and consociationalism.

"In consociationalism, contrary to what its supporters believe, cost benefit calculations trump deliberative politics every time," i.e. party interests and the zero sum game always win over the wider public interest.

It was amusing to hear the secretary general mentioning the need to respect Lebanon's consociational system, just after his denunciation of sectarianism, perhaps because Hizbullah has systematically violated the rules of consociationalism and remains among the most sectarian of organizations.